Co-parenting tips for putting your children’s needs first
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Co-parenting tips for putting your children’s needs first

On Behalf of | May 12, 2021 | Child Custody |

However you and your ex feel about each other after your divorce is final, your love for your children has not changed. You understand that your responsibility to help raise your kids will continue after your marriage ends, at least until your children are 18.

But the idea of co-parenting with your former spouse might seem unfathomable at the moment. Fortunately, divorced parents in Elizabethtown and throughout Kentucky can put aside their differences and work together to raise their kids successfully. Here are some tips to help you do the same thing.

  • Keep the lines of communication open. If you and your ex are on relatively good terms, the two of you should speak regularly about parenting matters like handoff schedules, the children’s schooling, holidays, and so on. If casual phone calls and texts are not a good option for you, consider having periodic “co-parenting meetings” to handle these matters. A third party can also be present if that helps the two of you keep negative emotions in check. Being on the same page can prevent misunderstandings.
  • Communicate with the kids too. Your children may need to be reassured several times that the divorce does not mean you or your ex are abandoning them. Create a safe place to talk to them and allow them to express their emotions, and be available for more of these talks whenever possible. If you can, get together with your ex to talk with the kids, to show them that the two of you will continue to be their co-parents.
  • Support your co-parent, and expect support back. Besides communication, perhaps the biggest key to successful co-parenting after divorce is mutual respect. This means supporting your ex as a parent by sticking to the parenting schedule while remaining flexible when the unexpected happens. It also means putting aside any hostility you feel toward your ex, at least where parenting matters are concerned.

Having a fair and sustainable parenting plan can make it easier for you and your ex to cooperate as co-parents. This means working with a reliable and experienced divorce attorney.

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